Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division, have announced a federal indictment related to an armed robbery at Westfarms Mall. Willie White, 58, has been indicted by a grand jury in New Haven on several charges.
The indictment, returned on April 16, 2025, accuses White of robbing the Sunglass Hut in West Hartford on July 15, 2024. During the robbery, it is alleged that White brandished a Glock pistol and stole numerous pairs of designer sunglasses. At the time, White was being monitored by state authorities via GPS.
White’s criminal record reportedly includes over 15 felony convictions for various offenses. Federal law prohibits individuals previously convicted of felonies from possessing firearms or ammunition that has traveled through interstate or foreign commerce. White has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been in detention since his arrest on related state charges on the same date as the alleged robbery.
The indictment specifies three charges against White: interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery), which could result in a maximum of 20 years in prison; brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a mandatory minimum prison term of seven years and a maximum of life imprisonment; and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, with a maximum term of 15 years.
Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman emphasized, "an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the West Hartford and New Britain Police Departments. The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shan Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Justice Department focused on countering illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime. The operation integrates resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
